Howard Marks put it nicely when he said that, rather than worrying about share price volatility, 'The possibility of permanent loss is the risk I worry about... and every practical investor I know worries about.' It's only natural to consider a company's balance sheet when you examine how risky it is, since debt is often involved when a business collapses. As with many other companies Sky Light Holdings Limited (HKG:3882) makes use of debt. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt?

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When Is Debt A Problem?

Debt is a tool to help businesses grow, but if a business is incapable of paying off its lenders, then it exists at their mercy. In the worst case scenario, a company can go bankrupt if it cannot pay its creditors. While that is not too common, we often do see indebted companies permanently diluting shareholders because lenders force them to raise capital at a distressed price. Having said that, the most common situation is where a company manages its debt reasonably well - and to its own advantage. When we examine debt levels, we first consider both cash and debt levels, together.

What Is Sky Light Holdings's Net Debt?

You can click the graphic below for the historical numbers, but it shows that as of December 2024 Sky Light Holdings had HK$25.8m of debt, an increase on HK$14.7m, over one year. But on the other hand it also has HK$43.8m in cash, leading to a HK$18.1m net cash position.

How Strong Is Sky Light Holdings' Balance Sheet?

The latest balance sheet data shows that Sky Light Holdings had liabilities of HK$189.1m due within a year, and liabilities of HK$9.30m falling due after that. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of HK$43.8m as well as receivables valued at HK$70.0m due within 12 months. So it has liabilities totalling HK$84.6m more than its cash and near-term receivables, combined.

Since publicly traded Sky Light Holdings shares are worth a total of HK$897.6m, it seems unlikely that this level of liabilities would be a major threat. But there are sufficient liabilities that we would certainly recommend shareholders continue to monitor the balance sheet, going forward. Despite its noteworthy liabilities, Sky Light Holdings boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load! When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But it is Sky Light Holdings's earnings that will influence how the balance sheet holds up in the future. So when considering debt, it's definitely worth looking at the earnings trend. Click here for an interactive snapshot.

Check out our latest analysis for Sky Light Holdings

Over 12 months, Sky Light Holdings made a loss at the EBIT level, and saw its revenue drop to HK$296m, which is a fall of 7.9%. We would much prefer see growth.

So How Risky Is Sky Light Holdings?

Although Sky Light Holdings had an earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) loss over the last twelve months, it generated positive free cash flow of HK$7.3m. So taking that on face value, and considering the net cash situation, we don't think that the stock is too risky in the near term. With revenue growth uninspiring, we'd really need to see some positive EBIT before mustering much enthusiasm for this business. For riskier companies like Sky Light Holdings I always like to keep an eye on the long term profit and revenue trends. Fortunately, you can click to see our interactive graph of its profit, revenue, and operating cashflow.

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Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.